500 Miles Hellfire 2

By Princess Alexandria

"That's not an easy question." Tessa sighed. "As you know, everything to do with Emma is complicated." Raven just nodded, she could empathize with that. Tessa stopped walking and turned to face Raven, "It was a mission, but Raven I was there a long time and she helped to protect me from the seedier people at the club. She'd manipulate things so I wouldn't have to serve those known to be cruel if she could, and I in turn protected her when Sebastian did stupid things to put her in danger with his damned love of gambling. He actually gambled with people as the stakes sometimes. I spent more and more time in her rooms so that neither of us had to entertain anyone else and eventually we started doing what everyone else assumed we were doing."

Raven had suspected this, but it still hurt to hear that Tessa needed that protection. They started walking again and it was in silence, but Raven didn't interrupt the silence, she wanted Tessa to talk more and maybe Tessa needed a moment to think. "Raven, I don't want you to feel like I was unfaithful."

"No," Raven's voice was quiet but strong. There was one thing Christy had thought that Raven agreed with, even though it was hard. "I'm glad you had her. When I had to leave you there I was trusting her to watch out for you, because I couldn't. I knew she would." Raven clenched her fist to feel the pain somewhere else for a moment so she didn't tear up, then she continued. "We were waking up when you were leaving to be with Shaw Tessa, and we were both too out of it to realize what was going on, but I never forgot the look on her face when you left. There were times when I was worried or scared for you afterwards Tessa, but I always told myself that Emma was there. That you weren't really alone." Raven's voice was tight as she stared at the sidewalk. "And I knew you were a couple, Christy knew it too. It was easy to see in both of you that it wasn't just sex, and you had to talk Emma into doing that in front of me. Nothing could have been clearer. That wasn't my question Tessa. What are you and Emma now?"

"When my cover was blown I called her." Tessa sighed and shifted the bag she had in her own hand. "I had to let her know that what she and I had wasn't part of the mission. I care about her Raven and I needed her to know it hadn't been a lie. She wasn't an active part of the club, but she wasn't completely out of it either." Raven stayed quiet and noticed their destination was getting closer. "She'd just lost her school and wasn't doing very well. I could tell from her voice, but she needed time to deal with what happened and wasn't up to forgiving me yet." Tessa stopped walking again. "She called me later from Genosha and talked like we used to, never mentioning the spying until the end when she asked about you." Raven's eyes widened a little. "No, she was good. I didn't realize she'd seen you. After it happened Raven, we'd talk about you sometimes. She'd wonder out loud like that occasionally and I played along, only when she called me my secret was out." Tessa moved to the door of the place, "I told her I had no idea where you were, but that I wanted to find you." Tessa added quietly.

Raven remembered the conversations Emma had tried to start with her back in Genosha, and could see how Emma was fishing for information then. It was strange how Emma was talking to both of them and not letting on what she knew to either. Raven couldn't tell what to feel about that and she frowned a little as Tessa talked with the host. Had Emma planned to talk Raven into seeing Tessa back then or was Emma just playing her own games?

They were seated immediately in the nearly empty place. When they were left alone with their menus, Tessa spoke in a more conversational tone. "The French fries here are very good."

Raven's question wasn't fully answered just yet, but Raven let the change of subject go, because Tessa couldn't keep their conversation private like Emma. Even with her telepathy she hadn't been that strong and now that it wasn't useable it really wasn't an option. The waiter took their orders and Raven and Tessa talked about shopping until the drinks were delivered.

"Are you with her Tessa?" Raven's eyebrows drew together as she considered that, and the way both women were in their own way telling Raven they wanted her. Part of Raven felt deceived and betrayed, but another part decided to wait and see how bad it was before getting upset. She had no doubts that she would be upset, it was merely a decision of to what level. Tessa was explaining it too much to just be friends with Emma now.

Tessa just stared at Raven for a little too long and Raven watched as Tessa's eyes seemed to study her. "It's complicated. We're feeling our way through it to see if anything is really there." Raven's eyes moved to stare at her drink and her hand moved into a fist with the napkin in it. "Raven?" Tessa pressed when Raven didn't speak.

"I see." Raven muttered quietly.

"I don't think you do." Tessa's voice softened. "What I may or may not feel for Emma has nothing to do with how I feel about you." Raven took a deep breath and looked up, knowing her own eyes were a little cold. "It's not a competition."

Raven's voice held a note of a growl. "Wanting me to talk with her, spend time with her, what are you doing? Do you think if Emma and I finish off this fucked up triangle it will all be great? What if I want nothing to do with her? Tessa, you can't honestly expect me to just agree to this."

"No, I don't expect you to just agree, but I do hope you'll attempt to understand what she means to me. We were together off and on for years Raven, years. I could never be fully honest with her, but there were times I wanted to be. You aren't the only lover I hurt, that mission made me hurt her too, just not as badly, but her ability to trust was so fragile to start with." Tessa sighed and her body seemed to relax just a little. "I can't explain the bonds that hold me to Emma, not if you don't understand, but I wonder if you really don't or you just turn a blind eye to it."

Raven felt her throat and the way it adjusted to add a bit too much volume to her response, something she'd become sensitive to since Genosha and her change and she forced her voice back under control before making a sound. It was probably a good thing since the waiter returned with their lunch while Raven was reining her irritation in. She sat quietly and waited for him to leave, but it gave Raven time to calm down a little more. She was at least calm enough to know she shouldn't talk at that moment and she just harshly pounded on the bottom of the ketchup bottle to get it to give her something for her burger. She wished she'd ordered something she could have stabbed with a fork.

"See the fries are good." Tessa commented when Raven put one in her mouth and Raven felt a tired irritation at how easy it seemed for Tessa to appear so unemotional.

"Yeah." Raven barely responded when she could and started to trail another French fry through the ketchup in a slow circle, drawing in the red sauce. She didn't try to elaborate and Tessa's heavy sigh didn't draw Raven's eyes away from her plate.

"You told me you weren't a flowers and sunshine type of girl Raven."

"And I didn't say I was a lets sleep with everyone type of girl. I didn't think you were."

"It isn't just sex, it's more than that. You know this Raven, you know it." Tessa's voice held a hint of angry passion. "Don't pretend to judge me when you're hardly innocent yourself." Raven glared at yet another insinuation about Raven and Emma. She was getting really tired of those.

"Don't." Raven interrupted Tessa before she could say more. "I thought you and I were…" Her words trailed off in hurt.

"We are growing closer again." Tessa's voice softened. "And I cherish my second chance with you. I do, but I promised to never lie to you Raven and I'm keeping it now. She holds a part of my heart as well, and I can see that you hold a part of hers even if you won't give her any of yours in return."

"I'm just a toy to her." Raven's voice was bitter.

"No, you're more. It started with Christy, but the way she treats you goes beyond her fascination with your double." Tessa's words surprised Raven a bit, she'd never known that Emma had been fascinated with Christy. It didn't really show.

"It doesn't matter. I don't want a part of whatever you think I want." Raven's voice was firm and after she said it her attention returned to her plate.

Lunch was rather tense and if Raven were still flesh and blood it might have made her sick to try and eat at that moment. She hated arguing with Tessa, but she couldn't just say it was okay either. This wasn't a damaged painting or a ruined plan, this wasn't their old arguments. Raven couldn't argue that Tessa shouldn't FEEL something; there was no way to argue someone out of feelings.

……………

Tessa excused herself to go to the bathroom, but left money for the bill before she went. Raven watched the gentle sway of Tessa's hips as the woman walked away, moving down the hall and out of sight. Raven sighed heavily once Tessa was out of sight and leaned back onto the back of the booth seat she was on, looking up as if some divine presence would take this moment to drop down and help her out.

No god came nearby, and the waiter even left a little too quickly for the backroom. In his defense Raven could hear the phone ringing.

Emma and Tessa were together. Raven let that thought wash over her and moved to lean forward again, resting her body wearily against the table and staring at the money Tessa had left for the bill. Raven had considered paying, but Tessa had decided years ago that between the two of them Tessa was the one to hold doors and pay bills. It was a little odd, but that was just Tessa. Raven couldn't really put a label to Tessa's behavior, except caring and polite. She couldn't say Tessa was butch, because between the two of them she was more femme as well. Tessa played all the roles even when roles weren't needed, Raven thought with a bit of irritation at herself, wondering if it was some lack in Raven that lead Tessa to overcompensate and to look for more.

Was it because Raven wasn't a real Mistress that Tessa considered keeping Emma? Was Raven supposed to play the submissive for both women in the little fantasy world Tessa was trying to create? Raven shook her head at that thought, remembering nights she'd shared with Mystique, as Mystique's Dom, remembering Lady Raven and knowing that she could never be that with Tessa. The thought of all the people who had used the dark haired woman made Raven want to protect her, not dominate her. That would make a very lousy Mistress, that urge to not be anything like the others.

If Tessa needed that then Raven couldn't give it to her. Emma could though, and Emma could give Tessa money and apparently make her feel safe. Raven's jaw clenched as she made her mental list of all her deficiencies compared to Emma. Raven loved Tessa, but love had never been enough before, and it wasn't enough now apparently.

But Emma was so manipulative and too controlling, Raven's mind protested the conclusions she was making. Emma was also caring in a strange way and more elegant and womanly than Raven could pretend to be.

A small surge of anger pushed her doubts away and Raven glared at the table since she couldn't glare at herself. "This is pathetic." She muttered, realizing how easy her own self doubt and self pity took over. Raven was just as good as any of them, the women she used to measure herself against and she wasn't going to add Emma to that list. Tessa and Emma could do whatever they wanted, because Raven wasn't going to play, Raven told herself forcefully.

A loud thump drew Raven out of her thoughts and she noticed she was completely alone in the restaurant. Shouldn't Tessa have come back by now? Raven heard another thump and felt apprehensive. She stood up and walked toward the bathrooms, her eyes traveling over the restaurant to double check, but she was alone here. No waiter, no other customers, it only served to make her tenser as she felt the wrongness of it.

Instead of walking right up to the hall, Raven moved to walk closer to the wall approaching it so that if someone were there they wouldn't see her. Raven enhanced her hearing and could hear breathing and a deep voice muttering. "No one betrays me and gets away with it Tessa." Raven's body started to shake as she heard him. "And once you wake up I'll make that point very clear."

No, Raven's mind cried out. Tessa was in his hands and Raven couldn't leave her there. Raven couldn't risk him seeing her just yet, so she carefully moved to try and see rather than rush in, because rushing could get Tessa hurt. No, no, Raven's mind kept repeating. Shaw stood with a few others behind him, holding Tessa up by her neck even though Tessa was limp and unresponsive to his quiet and angry monologue. "I gave you access to everything. You were such a perfect little spy. I even had you trying to find out who the spy was."

Emma. Raven tried once quietly. The blonde telepath was in the area somewhere. Christy would have been able to call her, and Raven needed that ability now. EMMA, Raven tried again, before lowering the shield and shaking with the power around her. EMMA, Raven yelled in her mind. She couldn't risk not calling for help, and Tessa couldn't anymore than Raven normally could. EMMA, PLEASE… OH GOD PLEASE HEAR ME. Raven's mind screamed out as she looked around one last time, ready to give up hope for a cavalry.

Raven? A mental voice sounded confused and worried, and it felt a little like Christy used to. Christy had been the only woman to ever touch Raven's mind.

Shaw has Tessa. Raven told Emma, feeling the concern grow. I don't think I can fight him alone and she's unconscious, Raven told Emma.

Don't hit him, he absorbs kinetic energy and it makes him stronger. You can't hit him with all you have or you'll be hit with worse. Emma told her, suddenly sounding in control and the hint of confusion was gone in her mental voice. Stall, I'm coming.

We're at…

I know, I can see the restaurant in your mind. Just stall, do whatever you have to do so he doesn't leave with her.

Raven stepped out into view of them all with that last thought from Emma, hoping that the telepath was fast and had backup. "What do we have here?" The deep voice wasn't Shaw's but Raven's eyes jerked over to him just as nervously to see another man that looked a little too familiar. "It's the Xman hoover vacuum. Sucks so good." His insult brought back memories of his other comments during that week.

"Leave her alone." Raven moved to stare down the hall and glared at Shaw, noticing how amused he was. He'd known she was in the restaurant as well. It would have been hard to miss. They'd probably been waiting for her to seek out Tessa.

"Well suited to shag on carpets." That other man just kept going. "Tell us Bitch," Raven's hands shook as he spoke and she tried to just ignore him as she watched Shaw, who just stared at her while holding Tessa in front of him. His hold made it clear that a wrong move could lead to a broken neck. He even shook Tessa's body a little to illustrate that. "willing to hoover one of us for her?" Shaw's lips curled into a cold amused smile at his henchman's comment.

"Leave her alone." Raven repeated her command and he looked surprised for just a moment. Raven's fists clenched when he caressed Tessa's cheek and smiled cruelly.

"This is the one you came to see. How did it feel to have your friend?" Shaw clearly could tell Tessa was more than that to her, "use you? Did you beg her to let you go? Or did you eagerly submit?" Shaw's arm moved around Tessa, holding the helpless and unconscious woman in front of him, his hand not around her throat caressing Tessa's stomach, moving her shirt out of his way. "She was a very good lover don't you think? Even as a virgin she had been a quick learner. I taught her so much." He was taunting Raven and Raven's eyes started to burn. "You must know that. You allowed us so much of your own body, given to protect her. All it would have taken was one word, for you to tell us who the spy was. One word from either of you would have ended our games, but I guess I can be grateful neither of you did that. Taking your mouth is something I still remember with fondness."

"You are a sick bastard." Raven glared at him, her body shaking with rage and fear. She jerked just a little when she saw another man move in the corner of her eye. He stopped moving when she turned to look at him.

Emma said don't fight. What did that leave Raven? All these new powers and it left her powerless again. Raven stared at Tessa, looking so helpless, and knew she'd do anything for Tessa.

He has something blocking me, I can't take over anyone yet, but I'm working on it. Emma mentally responded. Stall, I'm coming as fast as I can Raven.

Shaw and his men stared at her and Raven knew she needed to do something. "For her I would do anything." Raven swallowed hard. "Even touch a disgusting man like you, and I did, but you have to be the sickest man in the world. Overcompensating for the fact that normally no woman would sleep with a ugly ape like man like you if you had no money or power. Still with those things you had to force women to feel like a man."

His face reddened a little when one of his men snickered a little. When he gripped Tessa's neck more tightly Raven regretted her words. Her face paled as she watched him slowly loosen his hold and Tessa started breathing again. "The Professor made Tessa a spy. It wasn't something she wanted to do." Raven spoke more softly as she watched him. She could tell the other men were moving, and even though Emma told her not to fight him Raven wasn't going to just surrender either. It wouldn't buy enough time, it would just give Shaw two hostages.

Still if all else failed Raven would, she'd surrender just to stay with Tessa, to lead Emma to them. No one thought she could mentally talk to anyone, and truthfully Raven was a little shocked that she could.

"I bet I've learned a lot more about fighting in the last few years." Raven worded it that way on purpose, using information Tessa had given her about Shaw's weakness for betting. "So call your goons off before I hurt them." Her jaw clenched and she remembered to not let her entire body glow as she said that. Underestimate me you bastard, Raven thought as she glared at the man.

"I believe this slave needs a lesson." Shaw's deep voice spoke to the men around her and Raven's body tensed. "First man to capture her can have her once I'm done with her. I think she'll be a useful tool as I explain to Tessa that she can't get away from me." Raven was dodging to the right before Shaw stopped talking to avoid a lunge at her. Her eyes moved around quickly and she noticed she had three men moving in on her now, their grins lecherous and evil.

"She's like a little vacuum." That one bastard told the others. "A little pain and a few well placed threats and she'll give it all she's got."

Raven's form started to change as she took a step back, away from them. Her breathing was a little fast as the memories hit her, but she focused on a form that couldn't be hurt like that again. Her skin hardened and Peter's familiar metal look took over her own body. Her teeth sharpened into sharp small dagger like teeth, which she bared at the men approaching her in threat. If he thought she was a vacuum before, she was a guillotine now and if anyone tried to force her they'd lose their precious little manhood.

"Whoa." One man stopped advancing on her but the other two just stopped for a moment before continuing to move in. It made Raven more cautious of the two coming at her if they still thought they could win.

Shaw was watching this carefully while putting Tessa down on the ground. It gave Raven hope now that Shaw couldn't kill Tessa in a second. He was going to let her fight for now, because both Raven and Shaw knew all he had to do was threaten Tessa and the fight would be over.

Raven couldn't finish the fight fast. Even if these men weren't a challenge she had to draw it out, because Shaw would be more than Raven could deal with. She needed Emma. Yet again she needed Emma. Raven resisted the urge to call for the woman again, to see how far she was from them now.

Raven's body was steel and hard, but still just as flexible as before. The first man found that out when Raven leaned back out of the way of the punch he sent her way while grabbing his extended arm, pulling him into her fist. He fell to his knees gasping while Raven was pushed back a few feet by the second man's kick.

The second man was the big mouthed one that had mocked Raven while raping her and while others raped her those years ago. He wasn't talking now, he was focusing on hitting and Raven blocked what she could and what she couldn't hurt but not like it should have. He really didn't know what he was fighting and Raven really wanted to show him. She kept telling herself not to take the shots that would end this; that she needed to use this man to buy time.

She stumbled back a bit and then he opened his mouth again. "If I have to use a rock to knock those razor teeth out of your mouth so you can suck me off I will." Raven's fists clenched. "I'll make you beg for me again." His eyes were cold and Raven could see he meant it. It wasn't like she'd doubted him. Raven's fist moved out quicker than she meant to let it and he looked shocked when he was lifted into the air with the punch. Then he looked hurt and Raven smiled a cold cruel smile.

Discipline that she wouldn't have had in a fight with this man if Tessa weren't involved had Raven looking over to see Tessa was still there.

Loud Mouth moved to attack again, claws extended from his nails but they only scratched Raven's steel skin and Raven felt a mild ache for a moment before it was gone. He looked like that wasn't supposed to happen and in his distraction Raven stared into the face of the man and pulled back her own fist, slamming into him. She shouldn't have hit him that hard, Raven thought as he flew through the air and slammed into the drink station, knocking over the refrigerated ice machine tossing ice out in a wide circle. She glared at him, remembering every word, every touch. The anger she felt wasn't eased at all by being able to knock him down. Raven wanted to do more, but his not getting up ruined both her ability to knock him down again and her ability to use him to stall for time. Raven turned to stare at Shaw, a challenge in her eyes.

She glared at the man that had abused Tessa and Raven, the man who was responsible for so much of their pain. Shaw took a step towards Raven, stepping over Tessa to do it. The weakest man, the one that hadn't attacked Raven moved to the side and stood over Tessa's body.

This was possibly the worst idea Raven ever had, Raven thought as she stood up, her eyes moving quickly to inventory the men. The first man she hit was standing and looking a bit sore, but he was still in the game. The loud mouthed jerk she'd rammed into the ice machine wasn't moving. Shaw looked huge as he stood in front of her his arms folded in front of him.

"Leave us." Raven commanded in a tone that would have to irritated Shaw.

"No, I believe Tessa's little slave needs the lesson she should have gotten years ago." Shaw moved his arms back to his sides as he stepped forward. "I should have realized that she was keeping you from me on purpose, but no more. I'll show you what I did to her that night she came to my rooms."

"No you won't." A cold feminine voice entered the room and Raven didn't take her eyes off of Shaw to see Emma coming in. "Hello Sebastian."

"Oh Emma. It has been a while hasn't it?" He sounded phony pleasant. "I see you've decided to ally yourself with the traitor, or were you a traitor as well?"

"No, Tessa always was the smarter one." Emma spoke pleasantly, just as fake, and Raven could hear the woman was moving to the side and closer, but Raven still kept her eyes on Shaw. "She fooled us all."

"And now I'll show her I don't appreciate the deception." Shaw took a step back toward Tessa and Raven took a step forward. She'd fight if she had to, she only had a moment to think that before his arm whipped out, tossing Raven through the air and slamming her into the blonde partially, the lucky part because Raven's head bounced off the upturned ice machine before she fell into the cold wet ice on the ground. "Good day ladies."

"No, the party isn't over yet Shaw." Scott's voice filled the room and Raven turned to see Scott standing in the hall behind Shaw with a crumpled man on the ground next to Tessa. Emma hadn't come alone.

"Well, touché Emma." Shaw turned back to them and Raven was already almost standing, the cold of ice clinging to her hands. "I guess you'll get to keep the girl for now." Shaw's eyes moved to Raven and back to Emma. "But it's only for now. I will have her and she will learn the folly of her ways."

Raven's fists clenched as Shaw pretended to wipe something off of his jacket, pretended to be a gentleman, knowing that he'd hunt Tessa forever, that Tessa would have to always look over her shoulder. Always. It was a life Raven had tasted and she didn't want that for Tessa.

Scott stood over Tessa, keeping Shaw away, but the man looked like he'd just walk away, walk out the front door. What would an Xman do about that, shoot him in the back, that had to be his thoughts. He stepped closer to her and Raven's cold fist clenched harder absorbing the cold water to spare her skin the feel of it, the cold triggering a memory and before she'd even consciously remembered it all Raven stepped forward into his way.

"And you had best plan for a long hard time once I get a hold of you again." He glared down at her and moved to shove her, but Raven grabbed his hand and stared into his eyes.

"You won't bother Tessa again." She told him quickly as she started to focus like she'd seen Bobby learn how to do years ago, only she wasn't using an ice sled. Her hand clenched hard when he tried to pull away as Raven's form shimmered and fluctuated, growing and shrinking a few inches at a time, wings forming and falling to water behind her. She pushed herself to grow and shrink, grow and shrink, the puddle under her spreading with each shift as she held his hand and glared into his eyes. "Nevermore." She whispered as he started to fall, but she still held on as she pulled the water out of his body again to grow, let it go and pulled again. He died, she felt it and the warmth of his life filled her as she dropped his shriveled hand. "Nevermore." Raven whispered as she stared at the nearly mummified remains of Shaw. He looked like Selene's victims. Raven started to breathe faster and faster as she stared at what she'd done. Like Selene's victims.

"Oh my god." Scott's voice barely registered, but the soft hand on her shoulder had Raven turning her horrified eyes to Emma.

"He would have killed her, he would have killed her." Raven's body started to shake and Emma pulled her closer, moving so Raven couldn't see Shaw anymore.

"Scott, see if you can pick Tessa up. I think we need to get out of here."

"I can walk." Tessa's voice was weak, "Just give me a minute."

"Glad to see you are awake Tessa, but we really need to leave. I'm double parked." Emma spoke and Raven's foggy mind caught that. She pulled back and started to turn to see Shaw again. "Don't do that dear. He deserved it, so don't punish yourself by seeing it."

"See what?" Tessa's voice was a little more alert and Raven turned to see Tessa instead, Emma let her turn in that direction. Scott was staring where Raven wasn't allowed and when Tessa turned Raven saw the shocked look on her face. Tessa stared at Shaw a moment and then looked over at Raven, before shaking her head and clearly deciding to not deal with it now. "Let's go."

"Emma."

"Scott, I'm taking these ladies somewhere else. You can get in the car or not, but we are leaving." Emma snapped at him.

In the end Scott decided to meet up with the others. Raven stared out the side window from the passenger seat. Tessa was laying down as the drug worked its way out of her system. Raven had no idea where the car came from, or what Emma did before they left when she went back into the building after getting Raven and Tessa into the car.

"She used to call me little sister." Raven whispered into the quiet car as Emma drove out of Manhattan.

"You are nothing like her." Emma's answer was full of conviction. "She has no remorse for killing good people, and you are horrified by what you did even though he wouldn't have stopped. Not Sebastian, he never backed down. I used to like that about him, but it became a very cold and cruel quality."

"What now?" Raven turned her tearful eyes to Emma, feeling helpless even though she won.

"Now we go to my house, let Tessa rest and perhaps take a nap. It's been a very long day."

"What about," Raven glanced out the back window even though the restaurant was way out of sight now.

"Well, I left a few mental suggestions in the men there. They will tell the police that Stan killed him, and Stan will believe he did it." Emma spoke more gently. "And the one that raped you is going to turn himself in for the murder and other crimes he's done, his sudden conscience won't let him not do it." Raven turned to look at the blonde again, stared at her, before slowly turning to see Tessa sleeping in the back. "She'll be okay. I did manage to pull what drug they used from their mind. All she can do is sleep it off."

"I need a shower." Raven felt infected with evil, from being around those men, from what she did, how she'd pulled parts of him into herself to kill him, his water felt tainted to her now in her mind and she wanted clean water. She wanted to pull clean water into her body to try and wash him away.

"You can even use my shampoo when we get there." Emma said gently and then the silence returned for the rest of the drive. Raven barely blinked as she watched the world go by.

…………………